Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Donovan sneered. “You? Listen, sweetheart, have you ever been in a race before? Don’t go wetting your pants when the race
starts.”
“Cut the crap. Do you want to compete or not?” Hailey asked coldly.
Donovan smirked. “Alright then, let’s race. But if you lose, you’re coming home with me tonight.”
Hailey tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Sure. And if I lose, how about we turn this into a real adult game?”
Her words sent a rush of excitement through Donovan.
‘Damn. She has guts. She looks sweet and innocent, but deep down, she is bold–fiery, even! I like that!‘ Donovan thought.
He said, “Well, since you’re so straightforward, how could I say no? But let’s be real, beating a rookie like you isn’t exactly something to brag about. Tell you what–I’ll give you a 30–second head start.”
On the racetrack, where every second mattered, 30 seconds was nearly the length of a single turn.
The Magemount Peak was infamous–10 brutal curves, each steeper and more merciless than the last. One mistake, and one would not just lose the race–one would plummet straight into oblivion.
Only professional racers had the guts to take on the entire track. For casual thrill–seekers like Donovan, the smart move was to stop at the halfway point. Anything beyond that was a death wish.
“That won’t be necessary. A race should be fair, after all. I wouldn’t have challenged you if I wasn’t sure of myself. Enough talk–let’s race,” Hailey said.
“I like your attitude! Alright, we’ll start from the base of the mountain and race to the halfway point. First one there wins,” Donovan said with a grin.
Hailey raised an eyebrow. “Halfway point?”
“That’s right,” Joshua chimed in from the side. “This terrain is treacherous–even professional racers have to be cautious. We’re just here for fun, so most races only go up to the halfway point.”
Hailey pressed her lips together slightly, showing a hint of boredom. “Fine,” she said.
She did not see what was so treacherous about this.
“The race is about to begin,” the announcer called out.
Hailey grabbed her helmet and stepped forward. The other racers were already in position, engines revving in anticipation.
There were 10 racers in total, but all eyes were on Hailey and Donovan.
Hailey was racing in Joshua’s place. If she lost, it was not just her loss–it was Joshua’s, too.
Joshua was defeated by Donovan in their previous race. As per the wager, the loser had to kneel and declare the winner’s dominance in front of everyone.
For Joshua, that loss was not just a defeat; it was a deep wound to his pride.
As the son of the Cooper family, being forced to kneel before someone from a lower background was an unforgivable disgrace, one that shamed not just Joshua but his entire family.
From that day on, the Cooper family had banned Joshua from ever racing again.
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Chapter 70
“Wait a minute.” Just before the race began, Joshua suddenly called for a halt.
“What’s the matter? Getting cold feet?” Donovan sneered. “Honestly, I don’t think this young woman stands a chance. Why don’t you race me yourself?”
Regardless whether it was Joshua or Hailey behind the wheel, Donovan was fully confident he would win
He did not take Hailey seriously at all.
Joshua might have been a threat, but some random woman thinks she can take me on? Ridiculous. She’s completely delusional, Donovan thought.
Joshua glanced at Donovan, his face devoid of emotion. “I want to change the stakes.
“If we win, Donovan, you’ll apologize to me and Hailey publicly, admitting you’re just a spoiled brat who uses your family to push others around. But if we lose… I’ll crawl under your legs for everyone to see.”
Everyone present was shocked.
Humiliation at its finest.
If Hailey lost, the Cooper family would be utterly humiliated. Their name would become a laughingstock wherever they
went.
The Cooper family’s century–old reputation would be ruined.
Hailey frowned slightly. “Joshua.”
Donovan’s excitement grew. He wanted to knock Joshua down a notch for a while. The last time they made a bet, Donovan wanted to humiliate Joshua but the Cooper family’s influence kept him in check. Hence, even though Joshua lost, Donovan had to hold back.
But this time was different. This time, Joshua himself had set the terms.
“Alright!” Donovan’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “Since you’ve said this yourself, refusing would make me look like a coward. Everyone here heard it–if you lose, don’t try to back out, Mr. Cooper.”
Joshua looked up. “I won’t.”
The atmosphere instantly heated up.
Joshua glanced back at Hailey and offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about the bet, Hailey. Just focus on the race. I’ve got this.”
Hailey narrowed her eyes slightly.
She knew Joshua was changing the bet to keep her out of it. That way, even if they lost, she would not have to bear the
consequences.
She thought, ‘This fool! How naive of him. Even if we really lost, someone like Donovan would never let me off the hook.
However, Hailey did not say anything–sometimes, it was better to let people hold on to their innocence. It meant they still saw the world as a good place, where things were simple.
She nodded and smiled at Joshua. “Got it. Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, you won’t lose.”
Joshua scratched his head and gave a silly smile.
“Ready!” The referee raised the red flag high.
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Chapter 70
Everyone got into their cars and got ready.
The signal blared, and the racers launched off the line like bullets from a gun.
Within moments, the pack began to scatter, each driver fighting for position.
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Though Donovan claimed he would go easy, his actions spoke otherwise–he slammed the gas pedal all the way down, speeding ahead to take the lead.
Hailey stayed close behind, maintaining a steady pace.
Donovan flashed a cocky grin as his earpiece crackled and his friend’s voice came through.
“Don’t worry, she hasn’t caught up yet.”
“Worry? Oh, please.” Donovan sneered. “You really think some kid can take me?”
Hailey’s face remained impassive as she subtly increased her speed.
She quickly cleared two easy turns, leaving the other cars far behind.
In under 15 seconds, she reached the third bend.
Just five turns to go before she reached the halfway point.
The third bend was the perfect place to make a move, as the next two were much sharper and more dangerous. Unless one had top–notch skills, overtaking from behind could easily end in a crash.
Donovan understood this perfectly, so he subtly increased his speed.
He could not afford to let Hailey pass him.
The third turn came and went quickly, but Hailey did not manage to get ahead.
Donovan felt a rush of excitement, confident that victory was now in his hands.
He could practically picture Joshua, humiliated, crawling beneath him in shame. It was a thrilling thought.
The thought made his blood run hot with excitement.
Hailey tightened her grip on the wheel, narrowing her eyes in concentration as she surveyed the road ahead. In an instant, she pushed the car to its limits, accelerating to top speed.
She instantly overtook Donovan’s car.
Donovan was stunned.
“The fourth turn is just ahead–is she trying to get herself killed? She’s going to crash!” he thought.
AD
